By
Denny O'Brien
©2009 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
Continuity is an
understated key to success in major college football. It certainly
explains much of East Carolina’s prosperity throughout the Skip Holtz
era.
The Pirates’ coaching
staff during the 2008 run to the
Conference USA championship is a
near carbon copy of the group Holtz hired in 2004. Outside of a couple
of changes during his four seasons at the wheel, Holtz has largely
avoided the process of reshuffling his deck hands.
That could change soon if
Todd Fitch and Greg Hudson made lasting impressions during interviews
with other schools this weekend. If both Fitch and Hudson accept offers
to leave, it could generate perhaps the most challenging scenario Holtz
has faced during his ECU tenure.
Replacing one coordinator
is hardly a simple process, especially when you consider all of the
factors involved. A head coach must select someone who is comfortable
leading and following, and who embraces the same football philosophies
and outlook on character and chemistry.
Not to mention someone who
is a seasoned recruiter.
Finding the right fit can
be as challenging as converting on 3rd and 30. Doing it twice during the
same postseason greatly amplifies the odds.
Just ask Chuck Amato. The
former N.C. State head coach ran through coordinators like Imelda Marcos
does shoes, with very little success. Despite highly regarded personnel,
Amato proved that production suffers when several coaches are introduced
to the program on an annual basis.
Though losing both Hudson
and Fitch wouldn’t rival State’s attrition, it would introduce serious
challenges. Both are highly regarded in their profession, and finding
equivalent replacements wouldn’t be easy.
In Hudson, almost anyone
would agree that a departure for Oklahoma State would be a crushing
loss. East Carolina’s defense has made significant strides under his
direction, making the improbable metamorphosis from the worst defense in
C-USA during the John Thompson era to currently the best.
His zone schemes have
proven successful against the type of spread offenses the Cowboys face
on a weekly basis in the Big XII. The only difference would be the major
upgrade in opponents' offensive personnel.
The same reaction probably
wouldn’t exist should Fitch depart. ECU’s offensive numbers weren’t
exactly impressive this season, and the general consensus has been to
attribute the Pirates’ lack of production to Fitch.
That assertion is unfair
given the parameters around which Fitch has been asked to work. The
Pirates’ offensive personnel – specifically at the skill positions –
hardly resembled a conference championship bunch from the midpoint of
the regular season on.
Fitch was tasked with
developing a running game that consisted of one running back that was
too slow, one that was too small, and one that was neither a bruiser nor
a speedster. His passing game lacked consistency under center, reliable
veteran receivers, and his best pass protector was often injured.
Steve Spurrier would find
scoring difficult under those circumstances. Heck, he did this season
while facing his own set of personnel challenges.
It also should be noted
that Fitch essentially implemented the offensive philosophy that Holtz
requested. After injuries and suspensions claimed many of the Pirates’
frontline performers, the instructions were to take a very conservative
approach, one that proved a winning complement to Hud’s defense.
Regardless, if one or both
should leave the Pirates, the general consensus among many is that Holtz
will simply thumb through his rolodex and reload with equally capable
coordinators. That could be the case.
But there is no denying
the possibility that coordinator defections could be difficult for ECU
to overcome. It could introduce new terminology, different
personalities, and some growing pains as players adapt.
The low rate of staff
turnover during the Holtz era is largely the reason for the Pirates’
ascension to the top of C-USA. Avoiding any this off-season could go a
long way towards keeping them there.
